Episode 43: New Sunset View Principal, Seth Hansen

June 14th, 2024 /
Shauna Sprunger /

Sup with the Sup

00:00 / 16:12

Welcome, everyone, to the next episode of Provo City School District’s What’s Up With the Sup podcast. I am Superintendent Wendy Dau. This week, I will be visiting with the new principal of Sunset View Elementary, Seth Hansen. But first, let’s go over the updates.

June 3rd through July 18th, our district provides free summer meals. Children ages 1 through 18 that live in Provo can receive a free breakfast and free lunch. Visit Franklin, Provo Peaks, Spring Creek, Sunset View, Timpanogos Elementary Schools, or Independence or Provo High Schools, whichever school you live closest to, Monday through Thursday for a free meal. Visit our website for times and details.
If you are interested in hearing updates regarding the construction projects happening throughout the district, please visit the district website and click on the new construction newsletter sign up link. Our next board meeting is Tuesday, June 25th. Visit our website for times and agenda items.
Watch for the summer newsletter coming to your home in Provo the first part of July.
For complete updates during the summer, visit us on our website or on social media.

Wendy: And now, on to our guest, we have Seth Hansen, who has been the principal at Rock Canyon Elementary and will now take the reins at Sunset View Elementary starting July 1st. Welcome Seth, thank you for joining me on our podcast this week. Tell us a little bit about your educational background and how you ended up as a principal here in Provo City School District.

Seth: Yeah, I had a lot of twists and turns. I started out in college as a theater major of all things.

Wendy: Shut up. I had no idea. That’s amazing.

Seth: Yeah, I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. Um, so I was at UVSC.

Wendy: Okay.

Seth: Um, and did that for a year, went on an LDS mission when I came back, I’m like, I’m not, I can’t do that for a living. It’s a fun hobby. So I was always good with numbers and math, really enjoyed that. And so my dad said, you know what, you might look into accounting, that that could be an option as well. I didn’t even know what accounting was, you know,

Wendy: Right.

Seth: I hadn’t even heard all of the, you know, the bean counter jokes yet. But as I started to look into it, it was like, Oh, this is really interesting. You know, I could, I could see myself doing that. So I went into accounting, um, got my undergraduate degree in accounting,

Wendy: Okay.

Seth: And I started working towards a master’s degree, working towards applying for that, and, uh, I was on the, um, kind of a waitlist to get into a master’s program, and that was kind of stressful at this time. I, you know, I’d gotten married. We were expecting our first son, and I was like, I, you know, I’ve got to get into this program or something. But all along the way, I kept on telling my wife, you know what, this would be really fun. Do accounting. And then once I’ve done it for a while, I’d love to go to university and teach.

Wendy: Right.

Seth: I just love the, I loved that environment where people are learning things. I love being able to explain things. Even in theater, I helped a lot with teaching the younger kids. And she said, you know what, Seth, you keep on saying this. Let’s just start there instead of waiting to get there.

Wendy: Oh, there you go. So it was your wife that kind of helped you with that.

Seth: Yes. Yes. Um, definitely my better half or three fourths or whatever. Um, so she, when we started looking into it, I considered a lot of things and I had a cousin who has some significant, not severe, but significant cognitive disabilities that I’ve, uh, she’s my age and I’ve, I’ve connected really well with her and I’ve, I’ve always felt a closeness with her. As well as just, you know, the way that our brains work and how to help things out. So I went into special education up at the U.

Wendy: Good choice.

Seth: Yes.

Wendy: Good job.

Seth: After being in the program, I started teaching up in Salt Lake, taught for three years, taught at Midvale Middle School, where you were at as well.

Wendy: Yep.

Seth: And then I finished my Master’s and moved back down. My wife was, her family was in Springville. I grew up in Salem. And so we moved back down here to Provo.

Wendy: Okay.

Seth: And, and got a job at Amelia Earhart. And that’s, that’s how I got to Provo.

Wendy: Okay. Seth: Taught at the behavior unit. Amelia, uh, taught special Ed at Timpanogos Elementary for a couple years.

Wendy: Oh wow.

Seth: Special ed facilitator at Franklin Elementary for a year.

Wendy: Okay.

Seth: And then. I had been in the elementaries for a while and felt like, you know, I’d like to see what, what the high school was like and expand things. And so I moved to Provo High as a facilitator there for special ed. And at that point, I started into administrative program. So I went to SUU, kind of their distance program for administration. And then, that’s a whole other story, just applying for administrative jobs is like, it’s like going to the doctor to get shots every other day and just, you know, here’s another one. Nope. That one didn’t work. Let’s try again. Um, I kind of had given up after a little bit, but at Provo High, after being there a year, Karen Brown was hired as the, as the new principal there and, and I applied to be an assistant and I was hired there. So it was Karen, me, Jason Garrison, who’s now in student services and Boyd McAfee, who’s in HR. And we just,

Wendy: That’s kind of a dream team there.

Seth: It was a dream team and we actually, we had a lot of people saying that cause it was just so, we connected so well with each other. They’re very experienced, so professional, so just awesome to work with. I felt like I was getting this special training because they were all so experienced and so capable. And I’m just this Hi. Hi.

Wendy: Hi. I’m new.

Seth: I’m the new guy, you know, just tell me what to do. You know, I can clean the toilets or whatever, whatever . Um, so I was, I was in, in that position for four years at Provo High School, and it was, it was pretty amazing.

Wendy: That’s awesome.

Seth: And then six years ago, a position came up when Dean Nielsen retired at Rock Canyon. I applied for that. My kids were getting older. My oldest was getting into high school and I’m like, I need my evenings back so I can be a dad. You know, so, so that’s, that’s why, that’s what really triggered the move

Wendy: To go to elementary. Yeah. That high school experience is like a, 24 seven.

Seth: You’re always on cal

Wendy: You’re always at work. Like your family better come with you to work if you want to see them.

Seth: So yeah. My kids kind of got sick of coming to all of the football games and basketball games and soccer and everything. So.

Wendy: Well, that’s good. And so now you’re going to be at Sunset View.

Seth: I’ll be at Sunset View.

Wendy: And how are you feeling about that shift?

Seth: I’ve got a lot of mixed feelings about that. I’m excited and I’m nervous. Uh, very excited to be working with Becky Thomas. I knew her when she was a principal at Westridge and, and she’s just so capable, uh, very, uh, upbeat and optimistic and just really a great team player. She’s been at Sunset View for the second half of this year. And so she’s gotten to know people. I’ve been able to meet with the faculty a couple times briefly. Um, and I’m excited to be doing a lot more one on one and working with their grade level teams. And it seems to be just such a phenomenal, capable, and really caring group.

And it’s always hard to leave a school you’ve been at, I mean, that’s, it is, it’s, it’s really hard. Six years is, is a long time. It is. I was, uh, just came back from Camp Big Springs, um, this morning I was, I was there with the Rock Canyon group, this is their week, so I got to see them and I saw them since they were in kindergarten and so it’s, it’s fun to see how much they’ve grown up, but at the same time, it’s, wow, you know, they’ve got a long, very exciting future ahead of them, but it’s, it’s hard to see them go.

Wendy: Yeah, for sure. No question.

Seth: But I’m looking forward to, in two weeks, Sunset View will be up there, so I’m planning to go up and hike with them.

Wendy: Oh, good. Nice.

Seth: Hopefully get to, get on the good side of the, the kings of the school as they go into sixth grade.

Wendy: That’s right. That’s right.

Seth: Yeah. It’ll be a good chance for you to build those relationships.

Wendy: And you’ve kind of given us your why a little bit as to why you decided to go into education. What keeps you going? And you know, this is a very challenging field, right? Like it can, it burns some people out and some of us are just like, nope, just keep bringing it on. Here we go. Tell me what keeps you going and keeps you motivated and keeps you excited about working with kids and being in education.

Seth: Yeah. Well, I mean, when you say working with kids, that’s, I think that’s the biggest thing for me. My wife and I had a couple of foster kids a number of years ago, and they’ve returned to mom. They’re doing really well. They actually go to Provo schools. And yeah. As part of that, we went through some training, you know, just how to really, really connect with them and help certain parts of their brains that, that maybe hadn’t gotten the kind of connection that they needed and, and development.

And I see that, you know, what, all of the kids that come to our schools are in some need of that. They really need human connection. They really need a lot of confidence. And it’s a, they need to know that people have their back no matter what, no matter what they do. We love them. We care for them. We’re going to help them. They’re going to be successful. We’re going to make sure that they get there. And that’s what really gets me up in the morning as far as coming to work is knowing that I’m going to get to see, you know, whatever kid might, might’ve been struggling that day or the previous day. And I had to send them home, you know, for whatever happened, I get to reconnect with them and let them know it’s okay.

Wendy: Yep.

Seth: You’re still learning and growing just like I am, and there’s somebody here who always wants to see you. Yes, there’s learning, reading, and math. There are all these doors that we help open up for their future so they can be successful, so they can feel confident. But the way that we do that is that human connection. And so that’s really, you know, that’s a huge part of my why.

Wendy: That’s awesome. I love that. What are you most excited about for Sunset View, like, what have you heard that you’re like, this sounds like this is going to be a fun experience.

Seth: Yeah. Chris Chicoat, is really hard to follow up. He’s so exuberant.

Wendy: Yes.

Seth: Um, and just energetic and I’m not that way. I’m happy.

Wendy: Yes. You are very happy.

Seth: I try to connect with people, but, uh, but he, he, he’s got so much energy and, and it’s very fun to see a lot of the traditions that he’s built around celebrating kids. And I want to make sure that I, that I continue doing that and I’ll bring my own twist to it. But it’s just so fun to see that this is, this is a community of people that love kids. They celebrate kids and they, they cheer them on the whole way, you know, they’re cheerleaders. So I’m very excited to be part of that. I’m really looking forward to a lot of the, you know, the experiences that the teachers and the families have, you know, that’s always something that, that fascinates me is where are you coming from, you know, as, as a community. And so having not really interacted too much with him yet,I’ve got a lot of questions, you know,

Wendy: Thats OK. That’s good.

Seth: So, yeah, but that’s, uh, so that’s exciting for me is to kind of see where, you know, where, where are my talents going to fit in a way that doesn’t disrupt, but only enhances and continues things in a, in a good direction.

Wendy: What might you be nervous about?

Seth: All of the same things.

Wendy: All of the same things. I was just going to say, I mean it is kind of, they’re very, very, they’re very much parallel, right?

Seth: Yeah, I mean, I always wonder is, is what I’m going to bring going to, you know, is that going to be a hiccup for, for certain people and how are we going to work through that?

Wendy: It’ll be great. You know, the one thing is people are pretty adaptable. And everybody has different strengths and you bring different energies and, and pieces to the table. And it just, it just works out. I just, I just feel like it does. So what would you want the community to know about you, or maybe even the students at Sunset View to know about you that maybe they might not know, just even just meeting you in kind of a superficial sort of way, what do you hope that they know about you.

Seth: Well, maybe I should get it off, you know, off my chest to begin with. I do have bowed legs. I don’t just walk around goofy because I do it on purpose. No, I, I think one of the biggest things is sometimes people feel like, okay, I want to give him a suggestion or I want to say something, is he going to be upset? And it’s almost impossible to get me upset. Yeah. So whatever happens I’m, I’m really not going to blow my top and get upset at them. I really just love people and I know that we’re, we’re all working through whatever it is we’re working through. But yeah, I just, I hope that they, I hope that they know that I, I am excited to work with them. I hope they know that, uh, what, you know, whatever they have to say, I’m happy to, to be a listening ear and I’m happy to help them work through, work through things and support their kids.

Wendy: That goes such a long way. You know, I think a lot of times people just want to be seen and heard and validated.

Seth: I know that’s what I want as a parent, you know, as well.

Wendy: Yeah, absolutely. Is there anything specific that you have in terms of a vision for Sunset View as you’re moving into this community? I mean, that school has such a vibrant feel to it, right? When you walk in, it just has an amazing atmosphere. Is there anything as you’re looking at it or is it something where it’s like, I’m going to kind of see how things go or what does that look like for you?

Seth: Yeah. I mean, there are a couple of different things that, that always in my mind are this is what’s going to make really, really good education. But at the same time, if something’s working well, I don’t want to disrupt that. I don’t want to mess it up. So as far as, you know, as a, as a vision, I don’t have anything specific yet. My team and I have already planned on some days that we’re going to work through this summer on, on clarifying that and, and getting ramped up. So we’re excited for that. And we’re, I’m really excited to get their input on it. I’m not a Type a, I’m going to just jump in and say, this is what we’re doing because it’s, I just find so much more strength when, when there’s a little bit more organic feel to things as, as I work with the rest of the team, I’m very aware that every child has their own journey. And we, as the adults in the building need to be aware of each of our students’ journey and how we can help them along that rather than we’re just working on specific numbers, or we’re just working on remediation, or we’re just working on whatever it might be. You know, that we’re making sure that we don’t forget we were trying to build an atmosphere where our kids can become very well rounded, mature and successful, confident people.

Wendy: That’s probably the best thing I’ve heard in a long time, Seth, this idea of each child being an individual and we’re taking them on this journey and that we care about each one of them very deeply and very individually. I know the Sunset View community will be very glad to hear that and I know they’re very excited to meet with you and, and work with you. So it’s always a stressful transition, but it will be good. It’ll be great. So, well, thank you so much for being on our show this week.

Seth: Thank you too.

Wendy: And this is Seth Hansen. He will be the new principal at Sunset View Elementary.

Seth: Go Dragons!

Wendy: Woohoo!

Thank you, everyone, for joining me for this week’s episode of What’s Up with the Sup.

As always, all episodes will be posted on the district website, YouTube, and anywhere you get your podcasts. If you have any topics or questions you would like us to discuss on the podcast, please email us at podcast@provo.edu.

Join me next week for an all new episode. Have a great week, everyone.